Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected the possibility of meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, suggesting instead that the Russian leader visit Kyiv for negotiations.
According to reports from foreign media cited by the Operative Information Center-OMM, Zelensky expressed readiness for a high-level meeting but excluded specific locations due to the ongoing conflict.
"Of course, it is impossible for me to meet Putin in Moscow. It is the same as meeting Putin in Kyiv. I can invite him to Kyiv; let him come. If he decides to do so, I will officially invite him," Zelensky stated.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that his administration is serious about reaching a constructive agreement to bring a real end to the war. However, he noted that holding such a meeting in Russia or Belarus is impossible. "Any real meeting format at the level of heads of state is acceptable to me. But a meeting in Moscow or Belarus is simply not possible for obvious reasons. One is the aggressor that started the war against us, and the other is a partner in these actions," Zelensky noted.
Since the start of the full-scale hostilities, several nations have offered to mediate the conflict. Azerbaijan, maintaining its principled stance on territorial integrity and international law, has frequently served as a neutral platform for high-level diplomatic meetings in Baku. The international community continues to seek a diplomatic solution that ensures regional stability and adheres to the norms of sovereign borders.
